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Mayor to address Open Government Summit

Mayor Muriel E. Bowser

Mayor Muriel E. Bowser will discuss government transparency at the fifth annual Sunshine Week program co-hosted by the D.C. Open Government Coalition at the National Press Club March 15 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

The program will begin with a conversation with Mayor Bowser about open government, now that she is one year into her administration. The program will also feature experts from government and civic organizations discussing the recently introduced “Strengthening Transparency and Open Access to Government Amendment Act of 2016,” an omnibus transparency bill that would make important improvements to the D.C. Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act, as well as strengthen the D.C. Office of Open Government. Finally, Archana Vemulapalli, the Chief Technology Officer of the District of Columbia, will discuss the administrations recently unveiled draft open data policy.

The event is open and free to all, but space is limited and pre-registration is requested. We expect this program to reach capacity. Click here to register. A reception will follow the program.

The D.C. Open Government Coalition works to enhance the public’s access to government information and ensure transparency in the D.C. government. Co-sponsors of the Sunshine Week program include the D.C. Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Press Club Freedom of the Press Committee, and the American University School of Communication’s Journalism Division.

Sunshine Week is a national initiative to promote a dialogue on the importance of open government and freedom of information. This non-partisan, non-profit initiative, coordinated by the American Society of News Editors and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, is celebrated in mid-March each year to coincide with James Madison’s birthday March 16. To learn more, visit sunshineweek.org.